We Could Be Something

Looking at the door which stood ahead of him, Iker let out a small sigh, briefly considering turning and walking away. He knew that it had to happen, even if it did end badly, he and Adriana did need to have a conversation, but still part of him wanted to duck out, not sure that he had it in him to listen to her tell him that she wasn’t quite ready to move on from her ex. Offering the door another glance, he swallowed slightly before he lifted his hand, tapping it against the wood a couple of times.

“Iker” Adriana breathed as she pulled the door back “You made it” she added, offering him a shy smile.

“I said that I’d come by” Iker noted, a half-smile on his face.

Adriana admired the soft look on his face for a second before she stepped out of the doorway, allowing him to step inside. “I’ve just made a pot of tea” she noted, following him towards the living room “Can I get you a cup?” she added.

Iker, who’d moved to settle down on the couch, shook his head. “I’m fine” he noted. It felt tense, the atmosphere in the apartment seemed more than slightly awkward, and it worried Iker, even if Adriana had yet to say a word, he was concerned that the atmosphere was an indication of the conversation that was to come.

“Are you sure?” Adriana babbled softly, her cheeks flushed slightly red.

“I’m certain, Addie” Iker quipped, a soft smile on his face.

Adriana offered him an uncertain glance before she nodded, moving to pour her own mug of tea before she padded towards the couch, sitting a little away from him. “So” she babbled softly.

Iker breathed out a light laugh before he shook his head. “So” he mimicked.

Adriana glanced at him briefly before she shook her head, pushing a hand nervously back through her hair. “We almost kissed, Iker” she mumbled gently “If it hadn’t been for bump’s kick, the chances are that we would have done, and I think it is something we need to talk about” she added, her words slightly uncertain. She knew that they had to talk about it, until they did, the chances were that their friendship would remain awkward, but she wasn’t quite sure of what to say, even if she had spent a lot of the day thinking about it, she couldn’t quite conjure what it was she wanted to say to him.

Iker noted the uncertainty in her voice before he smiled gently, his hand gently moving to stop hers from tugging at the loose thread which poked out of the couch cushion. “Addie, it’s OK” he noted gently “It was an almost, we didn’t actually kiss, and it’s more than OK if you just want to pretend that it didn’t happen. I am sure that we can eventually get past it” he added. It wasn’t what he wanted, for a while, he had been sure that, eventually, he wanted a chance to date her, but he didn’t want to put pressure her. Things were complicated enough for her without him attempting to push her into something new.

“Is that what you want?” Adriana enquired gently, a slight frown pulling at the corner of her mouth.

Iker shrugged. “It’s what you want, isn’t it?” he noted softly “Adriana, I have no intention of trying to make this odd between us. I like us, I like having you around, and if you want to keep things as there, I am alright with it. I understand it” he insisted warmly.

Adriana mulled his words over briefly before she turned her attention towards her hands, her teeth gently nibbling on her lip. “And what if I don’t want to pretend that it didn’t happen?” she asked quietly.

Iker blinked. “What?” he posed, his tone more than slightly surprised.

Adriana shifted in her seat. “What if I didn’t want to ignore it?” she repeated timidly “What if I was…disappointed that you hadn’t kissed me?” she added, her nose wrinkling at the sound of her words.

Iker allowed her words to hang in the air for a moment before he let out a nervous laugh, something which made Adriana shake her head, almost certain that his small laugh was a bad sign. “I’m sorry” she whispered gently “I didn’t mean to make this worse” she added.

Iker, who’d been trying to wrap his head around her words, frowned. “You think that is going to make this worse?” he posed.

Adriana offered him a look before she nodded. “I doubt that me admitting that was what you wanted to hear” she noted, her eyes still fixed on her hands which had moved to mess around with the bottom of her sweater.

Iker admired the look on her face, not missing how uncertain she looked, before he carefully moved his hand, resting it against her cheek. “Addie” he murmured softly.

“It’s OK” Adriana mumbled, trying to avoid his eyes “Things are complicated right now and I get that you don’t want to get in the middle of it. I shouldn’t be asking you to get involved…”

“Adriana, will you listen to me for a moment?” Iker interjected, a small smile on his face. They were rare, the moments where Adriana found herself nervous enough to babble, but still they made him smile. He liked the way she tended to ramble when she was unsure of herself.

Adriana blinked a couple of times before she nodded, something which made him shake his head, a small amused grin on his face. “I was disappointed too” he mused, carefully brushing his thumb along her cheekbone.

“You were?” Adriana squeaked.

“I was” Iker confirmed “I wanted to kiss you, Addie, I have done for a little while now” he added.

Adriana chewed on her lip for a moment, something which made Iker shake his head before he carefully leant into her, pressing the slightest of kisses against her lips. Adriana jumped in surprise but didn’t push him away, something which caused his smile to widen a fraction before he ducked back. “I don’t want to push you into anything, Addie, I know that you’ve got a lot going on right now and I have no intention of trying to rush you, but I think that…I think we might be good together” he mused gently, his hand gently squeezing hers.

Adriana looked at their hands for a second before she quirked a shy smile. “You really want that?” she posed gently.

Iker nodded. “We can move as slowly as you need to” he mused “But I would like to at least try. I like you, Addie” he admitted softly.

Adriana blushed softly before she moved to press another brief kiss against his lips, soundlessly returning the sentiment.